EDITORIAL: Dispensary deserves honest debate

Sunday

Aug 14, 2016 at 3:16 AM

Dispensary deserves honest debate

The last time town officials were considering the medical marijuana dispensary planned for Arlington Center, a group of residents came before the Board of Selectmen to demand the body reject the business' plans.

Walking their children near the dispensary's closed front door--a pediatrician's office shares the same building on Water Street--represented a threat to their children's well-being. However, they would not explain how the presence of what is, effectively, a high-security pharmacy could do their children harm.

When the Massachusetts Patients Foundation comes before the Arlington Redevelopment Board on Aug. 22 to ask for the special permit that would let it open its business, we hope the ARB's members will firmly press dispensary opponents for concrete explanations of their position.

Arlington resoundingly voted in favor of medical marijuana in 2012, with 68 percent voting in favor of Question 3. Likewise, Town Meeting passed the zoning enabling for a medical marijuana dispensaries in 2014 by a 160-49 vote. The public firmly supports allowing medical marijuana dispensaries in town; we hope ARB members will seek facts rather than accede to fears.

According to the leaders of the Arlington Tree Committee, the serious drought Massachusetts is suffering through also threatens the town's many street trees, particularly the youngest. Without regular soakings in their youth, the trees that make our streets so lovely to live on--or even just to stroll down--can die in weather like this.

Beyond pleasure and property values, there is additional motivation to make sure street trees are healthy. Trees are invaluable when it comes to managing the impact of city living on the environment. They cushion the effects of the "urban heat island" caused by every metropolitan area. This can even extend to reducing the amount of energy we use--and thus the amount of greenhouse gasses we produce--in the summer by shading our homes.

Please help keep this community resource going. Don't wait for The Lorax to remind you.

Talk to your kids about drugs and alcohol use

The results of a recent, town-administered survey are in, and they show a disturbing fact: Parents think Arlington teens use drugs at a rate far higher than they actually do.

The problem? When a parent isn't able to refute their child's belief that drug and alcohol use is more widespread in their school, and when students think drug and alcohol use is more prevalent than it actually is, they are more willing to take part.

For example, according to the most recent Arlington Youth Risk Behavior Survey, around one in six Arlington High School students reported having five or more drinks in a row on at least one occasion in the last 30 days, and around one in three report having had an alcoholic drink at least once in the same period. At the same time, over 42 percent of AHS students thought most of their peers drank regularly.

If you're a parent, a grandparent, relative or mentor of an Arlington teen, read the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (available online at arlingtonma.gov/departments/health-human-services/arlington-youth-health-safety-coalition-ayhsc/youth-risk-behavior-survey) and educate yourself.